Spare tire blocks hitch ball coupler

[RDiddy]

I searched the forums and surprisingly came up with zero results on this, I thought there'd be a ton of threads on a quick solution for this. Maybe I used the wrong search terms, IDK.

My spare tire blocks my hitch ball coupler, preventing me from using the correct hitch height necessary to keep my boat trailer perfectly level. (The trailer is a tandem axle, so it would be preferable to have the trailer be nice and level, keeping even weight on all 4 tires)

options:

invert the draw bar and use the 2" drop, which will drop the tongue of the trailer rendering it out of level... but I think the trailer would at least actually hook up

look for a longer draw bar... but I am not sure that's possible as the one in the picture I just bought is already 8" long

remove the spare tire when towing the boat - not keen on this at all for obvious reasons

option 4 - what am I missing? I hope there's a solution I am missing. Lower profile spare tire mount? Anything?

Thanks all

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[jludave]

Anything?

Maybe a hitch extender?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hitch+ex...fix=Hitch+ex,aps,76&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_8

 

[RDiddy]

Maybe a hitch extender?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hitch+extender&crid=1UFZ91MMSXAC2&sprefix=Hitch+ex,aps,76&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_8

Through research, I was looking at those earlier, but I also read that these weren't the safest / greatest to use... or was that being overly cautious? I have zero experience with them. Thanks for weighing in.

 

[GtX]

Take spare off. Easy peasy.
Spare tire delete. Easy peasy.
Extender. Easy peasy.

 

[Eyeball]

Getting an adjustable tire carrier and moving the tire up a bit would be the best solution.

Terafkex and Rockhard come to mind. Two different price points…

 

[jludave]

Through research, I was looking at those earlier, but I also read that these weren't the safest / greatest to use... or was that being overly cautious? I have zero experience with them. Thanks for weighing in.

What about raising the spare with a relocation bracket? There’s plenty of options for this on the market.

 

[RDiddy]

Take spare off. Easy peasy.
Spare tire delete. Easy peasy.
Extender. Easy peasy.

I really, really hesitate to remove the spare tire. Seems like a kick in the nuts waiting to happen, so that's worst case scenario.

Reevaluating the hitch extenders as we speak. Thanks for stopping in with your insight. Much appreciated

 

[RDiddy]

Getting an adjustable tire carrier and moving the tire up a bit would be the best solution.

Looking those up as we speak, thanks.

do you have any experience with the hitch extenders? Are they mickey mouse?

 

[americonium]

Throw the spare in the boat or in the back seat or behind the back seat. It's 3 lug nuts.

 

[RDiddy]

Throw the spare in the boat or in the back seat or behind the back seat. It's 3 lug nuts.

Hmmm... I think you're onto something. For some reason, I was always picturing taking it off and leaving it off... I guess if worse comes to worse, I could always pull the spare off, hook up to trailer and then pop it back on.

Thanks for the lifeline.

 

[Camaroboi13]

https://www.extremeterrain.com/redr...spare-tire-relocation-bracket-j130928-jl.html

I have this same one with a 37” spare tire on stock bumper and have more space than you. It’s only 80 bucks, and VERY easy to install. Definitely worth a look in my opinion.

 

[Jeep Wick]

I searched the forums and surprisingly came up with zero results on this, I thought there'd be a ton of threads on a quick solution for this. Maybe I used the wrong search terms, IDK.

My spare tire blocks my hitch ball coupler, preventing me from using the correct hitch height necessary to keep my boat trailer perfectly level. (The trailer is a tandem axle, so it would be preferable to have the trailer be nice and level, keeping even weight on all 4 tires)

options:

invert the draw bar and use the 2" drop, which will drop the tongue of the trailer rendering it out of level... but I think the trailer would at least actually hook up

look for a longer draw bar... but I am not sure that's possible as the one in the picture I just bought is already 8" long

remove the spare tire when towing the boat - not keen on this at all for obvious reasons

option 4 - what am I missing? I hope there's a solution I am missing. Lower profile spare tire mount? Anything?

Thanks all

I'm really surprised you need the ball that high...how heavy is your boat, everything I pull needs to be lower than 5 1/2" drop.

 

[RDiddy]

https://www.extremeterrain.com/redr...spare-tire-relocation-bracket-j130928-jl.html

I have this same one with a 37” spare tire on stock bumper and have more space than you. It’s only 80 bucks, and VERY easy to install. Definitely worth a look in my opinion.

Thanks for the link sir. Do you think that product would buy me the clearance necessary to get the trailer coupler under the tire to drop onto the ball? The pictures don't seem to show a lot of space after the relocation plate is on... but then again those tires are 35's and beyond, mine are only 33's

 

[RDiddy]

I'm really surprised you need the ball that high...how heavy is your boat, everything I pull needs to be lower than 5 1/2" drop.

The boat is exactly 3259 pounds.

So admittedly, the boat is on order and I have yet to take delivery - so it is sight unseen. I am supposed to be picking it up this Friday. Originally I was told buy a flat draw bar, no rise / no drop and it'd be perfect height. That obviously didn't work and was returned, where I picked up this 2" drop bar.

These are the "measurements" I received from the dealer, which to me are clear as mud:

1. Tongue level to top of ball is roughly 19”
2. Trailer frame level to top of ball roughly 22”-23”.
3. When the frame is level, the tandem shackle is in a more center position. More even weight distribution over both axles.

If you can decipher them, I'd be grateful... but to me, it reads that the top of my hitch ball needs to be 23" high off the ground, which to me matches the picture where the 2" drop is inverted.

Tell me I am way off base, and I will be just fine with the 2" drop hitch, please. It'd save me a pile of headaches.

Note that there will be not much of any sag in the rear end, I recently installed an air lift 1000 kit as my jeep sags heavily even with just my camping gear. I am hoping that is an issue of the past.

 

[JP52]

If you just need space above to drop the hitch onto the ball just open the door when you put the trailer on.

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